Aechmea plant named &#39;Patricia&#39;s Secret&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Aechmea  plant named ‘Patricia&#39;s Secret’, characterized by its upright and outwardly arching growth habit; unique yellow green and green variegated leaves with green-colored margins and yellow green-colored longitudinal stripes with a rosy pink-colored blush; inflorescences held upright and above the foliar plane on strong orange-colored scapes; tightly branched inflorescences with greyed orange-colored flower bracts with greyed yellow-colored sepals; and long-lasting inflorescences.

BOTANICAL DESIGNATION

Aechmea eurcarymbus×(Aechmea chantinii×Aechmea tessmannii)

CULTIVAR DENOMINATION

‘PATRICIA'S SECRET’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Aechmea plant,botanically known as Aechmea eurcarymbus×(Aechmea chantinii×Aechmeatessmannii) and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Patricia'sSecret’.

The new Aechmea plant is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation ofthe Aechmea eurcarymbus×(Aechmea chantinii×Aechmea tessmannii)‘Patricia’, not patented. The new Aechmea plant was discovered andselected by the Inventor from within a population of plants of‘Patricia’ in a controlled greenhouse environment in Princeton, Fla. in2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Aechmea plant by offsets in a controlledgreenhouse environment in Princeton, Fla. since 2008 has shown that theunique features of this new Aechmea plant are stable and reproduced trueto type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Aechmea have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Patricia's Secret’. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘Patricia's Secret’ as a newand distinct Aechmea plant:

-   -   1. Upright and outwardly arching growth habit.    -   2. Unique yellow green and green variegated leaves with        green-colored margins and yellow green-colored longitudinal        stripes with a rosy pink-colored blush.    -   3. Inflorescences held upright and above the foliar plane on        strong orange-colored scapes.    -   4. Tightly branched inflorescences with greyed orange-colored        flower bracts with greyed yellow-colored sepals.    -   5. Long-lasting inflorescences.

Plants of the new Aechmea differ from plants of the parent, ‘Patricia’,primarily in leaf color as plants of ‘Patricia’ have solid green-coloredleaves with a bronze-colored blush.

Plants of the new Aechmea can be compared to plants of Aechmea chantinii‘Samurai’, not patented. Plants of the new Aechmea and ‘Samurai’ differprimarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Aechmea are taller than plants of        ‘Samurai’.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Aechmea are broader than leaves        of plants of ‘Samurai’.    -   3. Variegation of leaves of plants of the new Aechmea is more        stable than variegation of leaves of ‘Samurai’.    -   4. Plants of the new Aechmea have longer-lasting inflorescences        than plants of ‘Samurai’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Aechmea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Aechmea plant. The photograph on the right side of the sheet isa side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Patricia'sSecret’ grown in a container. The photograph on the left side of thesheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘Patricia'sSecret’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in 20-cm containers during the winterand spring in a polypropylene-covered shadehouse in Princeton, Fla.During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 28° to30° C., night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 22° C. and light levelsranged from 3,200 to 5,000 foot-candles. Plants were 14 months old whenthe photographs and description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Aechmea eurcarymbus×(Aechmea    chantinii×Aechmea tessmannii) ‘Patricia's Secret’.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of the Aechmea    eurcarymbus×(Aechmea chantinii×Aechmea tessmannii) ‘Patricia’, not    patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By offsets.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 30 to 45 days at            temperatures ranging from 28° C. to 30° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 45 to 60 days at            temperatures ranging from 28° C. to 30° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            months at temperatures ranging from 28° C. to 30° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About six            months at temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 22° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; yellow and            white in color, actual color will depend on substrate            composition.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and outwardly arching growth            habit; rosette leaves are erect when young, becoming            outwardly arching with development; plants readily produce            offsets; vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height, soil surface to top of leaf canopy.—About 74.3            cm.        -   Plant height, soil surface to top of inflorescence.—About 80            cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 90 cm.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Rosette, spiral phyllotaxis; leaves clasping;            simple.        -   Length.—About 64.8 cm.        -   Width.—About 9.2 cm; at the base, about 15.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate, strap-like.        -   Apex.—Cuspidate.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Margin.—Serrate and spinose.        -   Aspect.—Upright to arching with development.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;            leathery; stiff.        -   Luster, upper surface.—Slightly glossy.        -   Luster, lower surface.—Matte.        -   Venation.—Parallel.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Towards the            margins, 146B; central parallel longitudinal stripes, 146C            to 146D and 147B. Developing leaves, lower surface: Towards            the margins, 147C; central parallel longitudinal stripes,            146D, 147C and and 147A; overlain with close to 182B to            182C; venation, close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Towards the margins, 146C; central parallel            longitudinal stripes, 146B to 146D and 161D; venation, close            to 145A.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Inflorescence form and arrangement.—Long, open terminal            panicles with tightly branched lateral panicles supported by            erect and strong scapes; about 21 lateral panicles each with            about 17 individual flowers; flowers distichous, sessile.        -   Time to flower.—Plants begin flowering about 12 to 14 weeks            after planting.        -   Inflorescence longevity.—Inflorescences of the new Aechmea            are very long-lasting, typically bract color will be            maintained for about two months in the interior and about            four months in the landscape depending on environmental            conditions; inflorescences persistent.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Inflorescence length.—About 31.75 cm.        -   Inflorescence width.—About 28 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm.            Shape: Ovoid, pointed. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            Close to 162A.        -   Flower length.—About 2.1 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 5 mm.        -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Three in a single whorl.            Length: About 2.1 cm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape: Elongated            ovate to lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Margin:            Entire. Texture, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.            Color: When opening and fully opened, inner surface: Close            to 28B. When opening and fully opened, outer surface: Close            to 28A.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Three in a single whorl.            Length: About 2.7 cm. Width: About 8 mm. Shape: Elongated            ovate to lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Fused. Margin:            Entire. Texture, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.            Color: When opening and fully opened, inner surface: Close            to 162B. When opening and fully opened, outer surface: Close            to 163B to 163C.        -   Primary bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: One subtending            each lateral panicle. Length: About 8.4 cm. Width: About            3 cm. Shape: Deltoid. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Truncate.            Margin: Entire. Texture, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Color, inner surface: Close to 179C. Color, outer            surface: Close to 179B.        -   Flower bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: One per flower;            subtending and closely appressed to the flower. Length:            About 2.4 cm. Width: About 8 mm. Shape: Narrowly deltoid.            Apex: Acuminate. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture,            inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, inner and            outer surfaces: Close to N167C.        -   Scapes.—Length, primary, to base of inflorescence: About            47 cm. Length, laterals: About 1.5 cm. Diameter, primary:            About 6 mm. Diameter, laterals: About 4.5 mm. Strength,            primary and laterals: Strong. Aspect, primary: Mostly            upright. Aspect, laterals: Curving upright. Texture, primary            and laterals: Smooth, glabrous. Color, primary and laterals:            Close to 34B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Six.            Filament length: About 6 mm. Filament color: Close to 162A.            Anther length: About 4 mm. Anther shape: Elongated oblong.            Anther color: Close to 162C. Pollen: None observed. Pistils:            Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 1.3 cm. Style            length: About 1 cm. Style color: Close to N163C. Stigma            shape: Ovoid. Stigma color: Close to N163D. Ovary color:            Close to 196D.        -   Seeds.—Seed production has not been observed on plants of            the new Aechmea.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Aechmea have been observed    to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 3° C. to about 36° C.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Aechmea have been    observed to be resistant to Pythium and Phytophthora. Plants of the    new Aechmea not been observed to be resistant to pests and other    pathogens common to Aechmea plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Aechmea plant named ‘Patricia's Secret’ as illustrated and described. 